Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer disease is a physical illness that causes changes in the brain. It is a form of dementia. It affects a person’s memory, mood, and behavior.

Alzheimer’s disease usually affects people over 65. A person with this disease has trouble remembering, speaking, learning, making judgments, and planning. Some people feel restless and moody. It may take many years for the disease to get worse.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can be frustrating for a person with the disease. Dealing with these symptoms can also be difficult for family members and caregivers. It may help to understand that these changes are no one’s fault. They are part of the disease.

People often become more forgetful as they grow older. But Alzheimer’s disease causes more than just memory loss. Its symptoms can impact every part of a person’s life. Over time, people with the disease have trouble doing common daily activities, such as bathing or getting dressed.

Famous people with the Alzheimer's have included US president Ronald Reagan, or Geraldine Fitzgerald.

Causes
No one knows what causes Alzheimer’s disease. We do know physical changes take place in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain cells called neurons. The neurons send messages to one another. These messages allow us to think, remember, and speak. When deposits, called plagues and tangles, form in the brain, they disrupt the flow of these messages. As people age, it is normal for some of these deposits to form. But in people with Alzheimer’s disease, there are many more of them, making it harder to think, remember, and perform simple tasks.

Risk factors
The key risk factor is family history (heredity). Researchers have been studying genes to see what role they play in Alzheimer’s disease. Only 3% of all cases of Alzheimer’s disease have a proven hereditary link. Heredity plays a much larger role in early-onset (before age 65) of Alzheimer’s disease. Even if you have family members with the disease, you are not certain to develop it.
Age is another common risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease increases after age 65. Alzheimer’s disease can develop in people under the age of 50, but it is very rare. By age 80 about 1 in 5 people have Alzheimer’s disease. By age 90, nearly half of all people have some symptoms of the disease.
Some other possible causes of Alzheimer’s disease are:

• head injury – people who had an earlier serious head injury may be at higher risk.
• gender – women may have a higher risk of developing the disease than men.
• environment – researchers are studying a variety of environmental factors as possible causes of and ways to prevent Alzheimer’s. For example, the brain tissue of people with Alzheimer’s often shows traces of aluminum and zinc. Researchers are trying to determine if exposure to these and other types of metals is a cause or an effect of the disease.

Signs and symptoms
People with Alzheimer’s disease lose short-term memory first. They may remember a high school experience but forget what they ate for breakfast.
A person with Alzheimer’s disease may also:

• forget simple things (e.g. familiar people’s names, commonly used phone numbers)
• forget how to get to familiar place
• misplace things more often than usual
• lose his/her train of thought when speaking
• repeat things often
• feel more suspicious, cautious, or anxious
• lose interest in things and people that used to be enjoyable
• feel stressed when making decisions

Diagnosis
Many people wonder about whether they are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or whether symptoms they have noticed might mean that they have it.
In order to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, the healthcare provider must rule out other possible causes of symptoms, such as memory loss. A complete examination helps determine if Alzheimer’s disease is causing a person’s symptoms. There is no single test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.
The healthcare provider will take a medical history (information about medications taken regularly, past or present illnesses, past surgeries, mental health problems of patient and close relatives, alcohol use) and give a complete physical exam.
The healthcare provider may also take blood or urine samples, give memory and psychological test to see how well the brain is working, and order a brain scan.

Stages of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease progresses differently in each person who has it. Not everyone will have every symptom. The symptoms may occur at various times in different individuals. Since Alzheimer’s disease can last as long as 20 years, it can be helpful to look at it in terms of stages.
There are 3 main stages of Alzheimer’s disease:

1. Mild, or Early Stage – most people at this stage can still manage many of their daily activities themselves but may need some assistance or support to stay organized.
   Possible changes: having trouble carrying out tasks that require multiple steps (balancing a checkbook or following a recipe); getting lost, even in familiar places; spending less time doing favorite hobbies; feeling sad, depressed, or anxious; avoiding social situations; having trouble remembering appointments, people’s names, or things that happened recently; losing or misplacing items; having trouble finding words when speaking.
2. Moderate, or Mid Stage – people at this stage may have more trouble taking care of themselves, but they can still be involved in their daily care and follow a comfortable routine.
   Possible changes: needing help to take a bath or shower, choose clothing, or get dressed; needing reminders to eat; changing sleep habits, such as remaining awake at night and sleeping during the day; feeling restless or wandering, especially in the late afternoon or evening; getting suspicious, angry, or easily upset; having trouble recognizing family members; having difficulty expressing self and understanding others.
3. Severe, or Late Stage – people at this stage often require complete assistance with daily care.
   Possible changes: needing help to eat; needing help to stand and walk; needing help to use the bathroom; touching or patting things over and over; sleeping more often; speaking less and less; may respond less frequently to care partners.

Treatment choices
To treat Alzheimer’s disease are used prescription medicines. The goal of treatment is to help control the symptoms that affect memory and thinking. Treatment can also help if the person is restless, depressed, wanders, or has trouble sleeping.

Some medicines, vitamins, and other therapies are being studied to see if they may help people with Alzheimer’s disease. The healthcare provider may suggest trying one of these.
The healthcare provider will work with the person with Alzheimer’s disease and the family to decide on the best treatment plan together.

Tips: How can patient with Alzheimer’s disease deal with short-term memory loss!

1. Keep familiar items around.
2. Mark off the days on a calendar.
3. Make a schedule of daily activities and post it where it can be seen (include meal times, medicine schedules, exercise, bedtime).
4. Have someone call with a reminder about meal times, medicine, or appointments.
5. Label and store medicines in a pill organizer.
6. Post reminders to turn off appliances and lock doors.
7. Use a notebook to record the person’s address and phone numbers. Also include directions to the house and other important information.
8. Post important phone numbers where they are easily seen.
9. Label photos with the names and people seen regularly.
10. Label cupboards and drawers with the contents.
11. Organize closets and drawers so things are easy to find.

Tips: How to help a person with Alzheimer’s disease to stay physically healthy!

1. Ensure that patient takes all medicines as directed, including medicines prescribed for conditions other than Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Gets regular checkups.
3. Eats a balanced diet.
4. Exercises every day.
5. Rests when tired.
6. Drinks less alcohol, if any.

Tips: How to cope with feelings of fear, frustration, loneliness, depression, anger, or loss!

1. Keep a journal or diary.
2. Join a support group.
3. Share feelings with friends and family.
4. Continue with activities that are enjoyed.

Alzheimer’s disease does not only impact the person who has it. It also affects that person’s caregivers and family members. Decisions will need to be made about living alone, driving, finances, and long-term care. It is helpful to know that the doctor can offer advice on dealing with these issues. Do not be afraid to reach out to your doctor for guidance and support.